The Pilgrim Path---I Corinthians 12: 26, 27

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

“THE BODY OF CHRIST…”

Most of the New Testament Letters were written to individual churches: the church at Ephesus; the church at Philippi; the church at Corinth; the church at Colossae---you get the picture. These were “real” local assemblies that were visible expressions of Jesus Christ’s Kingdom in the world. The Holy Spirit spoke to them. HE continues to “speak” to us through these letters. The church is significant---because the LORD Jesus loves His Bride and gave Himself for it. We dare not minimize the church. On the contrary, it should become more important to us. Our behavior in it---and our contribution to it---will be evaluated by King Jesus at His Judgment Seat (II Corinthians 5: 10).

What is the church anyway? I will give you a bit of church history from the Belgic Confession (1561). A mainstay doctrinal statement of the Dutch Reformed Churches. Here is a substantial quote from Article 29---Of the Marks of the Church:

We believe that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the church. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the church with the good, yet are not of the church, though externally in it; but we say that the body and communion of the true church must be distinguished from all sects that call themselves the church. The marks by which the true church is known are these:

If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the church. Hereby the true church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.

With respect to those who are members of the church, they may be known by the marks of Christians, namely, by faith, and when, having received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof. But this is not to be understood as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the Spirit all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion, and obedience of our LORD Jesus Christ, in whom they have remission of sins, through faith in Him.

My, my---a glorious biblical testimony concerning the church---and her members!

One of Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s most memorable quotes was phrased something like this, “If you are looking for the perfect church---don’t join it---You will immediately make it imperfect!”

Ask the Holy Spirit to “use” you to contribute life and peace to the Body of Christ---day after day---week after week…

HYMN

We are the Body of which the LORD is Head,

Called to obey him, now risen from the dead;

He wills us be a family, diverse yet truly one:

O let us give our gifts to God,

And so shall his work on earth be done.

We are a temple, the Spirit’s dwelling place,

Formed in great weakness, a cup to hold God’s grace;

We die alone, for on its own each member loses fire:

Yet joined in one the flame burns on

To give warmth and light, and to inspire.

Bryan Jeffrey Leach, 1976

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason